December 7, 201213 yr This morning as I was heading out to have breakfast my next door neighbors were setting up for a yard sale. They do this a couple times a year along with some friends to raise some money for their boys little league and to clear out clutter. So I walked over to see if there was anything worthwhile and I saw this old solid white oak rocking chair that would match in well with my A&C/Craftsman/Southwest design stuff in the family room and it was only $10!. She said that she bought it some years ago at another yard sale and the person selling it said that it was made by her grandfather. I looked it all over and while the finish is worn off in the arms and the upholstery is faded a bit, the chair is in great shape. There are a few screws in it on the bottom of the rails which are original that are definitely from 1950's or earlier. There is not a single crack in it and all the joinery is sound though there is a little bit of wobble in the arms. The upholstery is original to when it was made and has no tears in it but does need to be re-stapled in one spot in back. Â There is a metal bracket that was added to the front under the arm on one side which was added as a repair, but it fits into the overall design pretty well. So I used come cleaner to get the main dirt and grime off and then got a spray can of upholstery cleaner from Wal-Mart and it cleaned up very nicely. My wife nad daughter really like it and it looks great in our family room. Some time after Christmas I will tear it all apart and strip it and refinish it and get some new upholstery and it will be good as new. The guy who built it really knew what he was doing as it was very well made. It was also very well taken care of over the years by the family and it will be revived to pass on to another generation. Allen WorshamCorona, CAallenworsham@earthlink.net'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee
December 7, 201213 yr Good looking chair, Allen. Cleaned up real nice.Harry BrinkBulldog WoodworkingMontana
December 8, 201213 yr Great find, Allen, That is one fine rocker. It should be around for several future generations. Gene'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton
December 8, 201213 yr Nice chair Allen. I never seem to find these jewels. www.thepatriotwoodworker.com Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops
December 9, 201213 yr Allen, what a find!!!! Congratulations man, that is one nice example of A&C and what a deal!!!!!! How's it rock?John MorrisThe Patriot WoodworkerProud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project
December 9, 201213 yr Author The chair is smaller in size (narrower in width and maybe an inch shorter in seat height) to a typical traditional rocking chair like we currently have, but it fits me just fine on my 6' frame and my wife likes the way it sits. The back is straight with no contours like a traditional rocking chair. It is definitely designed to more of a feminine frame than a masculine one. It does rock a bit clunky as it has gotten a lot of use over the years. So when I renovate it I will have to bore out the screw holes a bit deeper to get the screws that go into the tenons of the legs through the bottom of the rail to sit down into the wood. They are currently hitting the ground and causing some of the clunking as you can see the wear on the edges of the rear screws. John Morris said:Allen, what a find!!!! Congratulations man, that is one nice example of A&C and what a deal!!!!!! How's it rock?John MorrisThe Patriot WoodworkerProud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project
December 10, 201213 yr Wow that is one great $10.00 find. And as you said, it looks like it is in great condition.John MoodySite AdministratorJohn Moody Woodworkshttp://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com
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